Barbie Wednesday

Hello friends!

I was looking through one of my Barbie magazines when I happened across these photos and wanted to share them with you.

The article talks about the rarity of the green dress Barbie is wearing. It is an unusual version of the 1963 "Theatere Date" outfit. What caught my eye was the Midge doll, standing next to Barbie. 

She is a Japanese Midge. I have read stories in the past about the Japanese thinking that Midge was not a very pretty doll, so they created this version with a beautiful, unique head mold and no freckles!

I believe she has a painted head and a set of wigs, much like the Fashion Queen Barbie.

Wishing you all a lovely day, Lindsey

Twyla on Tuesday

Hello dear friends!

You are used to me showing new treasures that I

have discovered.  This week I share with you my new car!

It's an '05 Pontiac Grand Prix and it suits me just right!

It's a pretty silver color and is my new antique finding car. 

Yippee!  Here I come!

If you supersize the picture you can also see my new haircut.  Got my haircut

Friday night also.  I am pretty happy with it.

I was commisioned to make a baby blanket.  It is very non-traditional in the colors that

were needed.  The mother- to- be doesn't care for pink or baby colors.  The bedding

is a combination of these colors.  After making it, I think it would be very pretty for an

autumn baby.

I'm dreaming of what is to come this fall.  It is full of surprises here at

Two Crazy Crafters.  We can hardly wait to share with you all we have up

our sleeves. 

I'm also dreaming of the summer that has passed and wondering why it had

to go by so fast.  We had our share of fun and leisure time, got lots of

crafting done and enjoyed the inspiration of so many of the wonderful blogging ladies

out there.  The passing seasons are sad to me as I lament over how quickly time

flies.  I am trying to remind myself to make the most of each day and enjoy

the experiences and companionships of those around me. 

Make it a good day, make a little time to create and lot of time for fun!

Twyla

Create Banner

Hello friends!

I have finished making a banner for our craft room! I created this banner using sewing machine shaped chipboard, by Maya Road. Maya Road is a great company that creates lots of cool chipboard books and embellishments. I knew as soon as I saw this set, that it had to be made into a banner!

My banner says "CREATE" across the six chipboard pieces. I used the lovely Lost and Found paper pad by Tim Holtz.

I also used lots of Tim Holtz embellishments throughout this banner.

I really loved giving this banner a more grungy, antique feel.

Before I can hang my new banner in our craft room, it must hang at The Scrap Nook, where I work! I make LOTS of samples for the store and I enjoy watching the customers look around at my work!

If you would like a set of these chipboard sewing machines, you can find them it here at Amazon.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend, Lindsey

A Crafty Day

Hello friends!

First, I want to thank everyone that commented on October Afternoon's blog!! I appreciate all your kind words about my Guest Designing work. October Afternoon will now randomly show my other projects throughout the month, so make sure to check back for them!

*UPDATE - New post up at October Afternoon's blog!!!!!! Check it out!

I love living a crafty life! I love getting my hands covered in ink and glitter! Right now my hands are stained a bright shade of red!! It's because I've been playing with this stack of awesome paper!! It's called Lost and Found by Tim Holtz. It's a great set of paper as it includes so many patterns, in a lovely antique style.

I love Tim's grungy, vintage style! So many fun embellishments and techniques to try, when working with his products. I am working on a banner that I can't wait to share!!!

I definitely recommend this paper pad!!! See the clock faces? I cut them out from the paper pad! Aren't they cool?

If you haven't been to Tim's blog, you should! It's filled with great projects and tutorials!

Wishing you all a crafty day, Lindsey

Barbie Wednesday

Hello friends!!

Today I wanted to share with you a sweet gift I recently received from Diane of Lavender Dreams!

The Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Exclusives!

This guide has been a fascinating read!!

It's all about the Exclusive dolls from the early 70's to the early 2000's. Not only is this book a great price guide, but each page is filled with great info about each Barbie!!

One very interesting page talks about the 2 different editions of the 1995 and 1996 Dorothy Barbies.

The first edition uses the Modern Barbie logo on the box. The story on the back of the box is also different. It says that a Cyclone whisked her house to Munchkinland. Another interesting detail is that on the contents list, a "hand ring" was blackened out as Dorothy didn't wear a ring in the movie.

The second edition uses the original logo on the box. The story on the back was changed to says that a tornado whisked her house away. This doll also has heavier eye shadow.

TODAY IS THE DAY!!! PLEASE GO to October Afternoon's blog and check out the first of my Guest Design work!!!

I will be guest designing for the entire month of September so please check in and see my projects!!

Wishing you a creative day, Lindsey

Twyla on Tuesday

Hello dear friends!    You guys are the best!

You were so sweet to me last week when I was feeling so guilty about my hoarding issues.

Because you were so understanding and appreciate my collections, I'll share a few of my

lastest treasures.  This Little Miss Muffet is from 1943 and by Napco.  I think she is pretty rare.

No sticker left on this one so I don't know who her maker is, but she was too

cute to pass up ;) and I hoard planters, you know.

This prettly little girl in blue is by Lefton and is also a planter.

This is a little drawer I've used as a shelf to display some of my thrifted finds

and flea market goodies.  Aren't the colors yummy?

I have such a passion for old prints and really have to fight my addiction to them.

This one is in such a beautiful wooden frame.

This is such a lovely lady in a beautifully carved wooden frame that I picked up

for a song.  Don't you love that saying?  If I'd had to sing for it, I don't

think they would have let me had it :(

One of the features that I used to love in Where Women Create is the interview with different artists.

The question that always fascinates me most is 'How old would you be if you did not know

how old you were?' 

I've pondered this question a lot myself.  I am thinking I could be very happy

being 40.  As much as I dreaded turning that age, I really consider that to be the beginning of

a great period in my life.  I'd just lost 100 lbs. and was feeling better than I ever had, had a great family and

and soon to buy our first home.  Creativity has always been in my life from a very young age, but I

began exploring different mediums then.  I painted murals, took up scrapbooking and rediscovered my

love for crochet.

Yes, 40 I shall be!

How old would you be?!

Have a wonderful day, my dears!

Twyla

Saturday Images

Happy Saturday, dear friends!

We hope that wherever you are and whatever you are doing,

your day will be filled with joy and happiness.

These two vintage cards are from our collection and you are

welcome to use and enjoy them.

Have a beautiful day!

Twyla and Lindsey

Barbie Wednesday

Hello friends!

Today I am sharing with you Avon Exclusive Barbies.

These dolls were available exclusively through Avon catalogs. The first Avon Barbie came out in 1996. She was called, Spring Blossom Barbie.

The next doll to be released by Avon was the Winter Velvet Barbie also from 1996. The first in a series of Winter themed dolls.

This Barbie inspired today's post as I just added her to my collection Monday! Still in her original box, she was a great thrift store find!

One of my favorite Avon Barbies is the Winter Rhapsody Barbie, which came out in 1997. I loved playing with her! She is the second in the Winter Theme collection.

Although this was an Avon Exclusive, it was sold by K-B Toy Liquidators for a reduced price and a Winter Rhapsody Sticker covered the Avon label.

In 1998, Avon released the Winter Splendor Barbie. She is a lovely doll! I have always thought she was one of the prettiest Barbies!

Also in 1998, came the Spring Tea Party Barbie. This doll also had been sold by K-B Toys with a sticker covering the Avon label.

Several more Avon Barbies were released over the years, but my favorite of all is this Timeless Silhouette Barbie from 2000. I adore the vintage style Ponytail Barbies across her dress!

This lovely Victorian Tea Barbie from 2006 by Avon must find it's way into my collection someday! I love her! She is so pretty!

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the Barbies created for Avon!

In 1 week from today you will start to see my work on October Afternoon's blog!! Yay! I can't wait to share with you all the projects that I created!

Starting September 1st I will be the Guest Designer! I am so excited! It was such a treat to get to work with all their lovely paper! My favorite new release from October Afternoon is the Modern Homemaker Line! It's dreamy!!!!!!

You can visit their website to see pictures of the new release!!!

You will also be seeing lots of projects featuring this lovely collection because it's all I want to work with!

I didn't have any of the cute stickers or embellishments from this line to play with while creating and as you can see they came out with beautiful stickers and even matching buttons!!! I can't wait to get those too!

The Modern Homemaker line will begin shipping to stores at the end of September! I can hardly wait to get more!

Wishing you all a lovely day, Lindsey

Twyla on Tuesday

Dear Friends, I have a confession to make.

I am a hoarder.  I know this may not come as a surprise to some of you,

but it has just become apparent to me.

I have happily been collecting most of my life all the things I love and never

once realized there was anything wrong with this.  I opened my newspaper this week to

be confronted by an article on hoarding. 

It was an eye opener!

"Hoarders are reluctant to reveal it. They are embarrassed by it but don't want to seek

treatment,"  it read.  Well, I am revealing it and I am not even embarrassed!  "Hoarding is considered a

mental disorder although whether it's a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder is up for debate."  Sheesh!

These people are rough!

I was guilty of the seven signs of a compulsive hoarder.  And I thought I just loved to

collect cute stuff!   My collections are dear to me and as long as it's not interferring with my quality of

life or my family's then I think I'm okay.  It is in the deepest fabric of my being to want

to collect things.  I can't help it, does that make me mental?

On the upside, it did say that 'hoarders shouldn't be confused with slobs or people who collect things.'

Then why did this article make me feel so guilty?

I refuse to believe that I have a mental disorder or am in denial.

Okay, maybe.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these pictures of some of my collections and don't think ill of me

for having them.  I hope that many of you will understand my joy of collecting and maybe share

in it, too!

Collecting has been my great extravagance.  It's a way of being.  I collect for the

same reason I eat too much-I'm one of nature's shoppers. - Howard Hodgkin

Have a lovely day!

Twyla